Ventilating-fan.



F. DIEHL.

VENTILATING PAN.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 28,1909.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that Llnnonmer: Dunne,

UNITED STATES PATENT amen.

FREDERICK IDIEHL, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DIEHL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

VENTILATING-FAN.

Application filed Tune 28, 1909.

a citizen of the lnited States residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating- Fans, of which the following is a speeitica tion, reference being had therein to the aceom ianying drawings.

This invent-ion relates more particularly to an improvement in overhead or ceiling fans and it has for its object to provide means for diffusion of the air current produced by one of such fans through a larger space than the area normally covered by the air current/when the axis of movement of the fan blades remains in a fixed position,

The invention consists essentially in mounting the fan-shaft for lateral movement in ditl'erent planes, and im 'iartmg to such fan-shaft, in. addition to the m'opelling movement for generating the air current, lateral movement in. different planes by means independent of the rorce of the said air current.

In its preferred form the fan comprises an electric motor to whose shaft is applied a series of propeller fan-blades, the frame of said motor being pivotally mounted upon a sustaining ring by means of fulrra. whose axis passes through the body of the motor, such'ring being in turn pivotally mounted upon a supporting frame by means of "fulcraangularly ar 'anged in reference to the lirst mentioned :lulcra but whose axis intersects that of the said fulcra. The supporting frame is provided with an annular track or run-way in contact with which rests a traction-wheel in axial relation with the motor-shaft but operatively connected therewith by speed reducing gearing, the rolling of the traction-wheel around said track or run-way imparting to the motor-frame, and thus to the shaft carrying the fan-blades, a continuous gyratory movement upon the angularly arranged fulcra constituting a universal joint connection of the motorframe with the supporting frame or hanger.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, 1n

which Itigure 1 is a perspective view, from above, ofan electric ceiling fan embodying the present improvements, Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same with the supporting frame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914. Serial No. 504,886.

or hanger and the intermediate ring in par tlal section. 1* 1g. 3 is a face view of the tra-etionovhecl and its actuating mechanism, with a portion removed to expose the gearing, and Fig. 4: a sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a. portion of the motor frame to show one of the pivotal connections with the rocking ring upon which it is mounted.

The motor is constructed with a frame comprising the yoke 1, and the caps 2 and affording bearing bosses l and 5, respectively, for the fol-mature shaft 6 carrying the armature 7 rotatin between ti 1 field magnet-coils 8.; The shaft (5, constituting the fan-shaft, has secured thereon a carrier comprising the hub 9 with radiating arms 10 to which are secured the propeller-fan blades 11 rotating within the usual guard in the form of a cage 12 secured to the cap 2.

opposite points in its outer face recesses lined with suitable insulation 13 in which are introduced the ball-cups lit each provided with an annular ball-race for the antifriction balls 15. confined therein by means of the centrally apertured washer 16. The rocking ring 17- surrounds the yoke 1 and is provided with diametrically arranged fulcrum-screws 1S having conical points '19 projecting inwardly into contact with the anti-friction balls 15 and having their nicked outer ends covered by insulating caps 20.

The outer face of the rocking ring 17 is formed with diametrically arranged recesses upon an axis perpendicular to that of the fulcrunrscrews 18, these recesses being lined similarly to those of the yoke 1 with insulating material 21 to receive the ball-cups 522 provided with series of antifriction balls confined therein by means of the centrally apertured 'ashers 24.. The supporting frame or hanger comprises a series of arched radiating arms 25 connected at their upper ends by a circular boss 26 and below the same with a ring 27 having in its upper side the conical track or runway 28. Two of these arms are provided with extensions 29 formed with transverse apertures arranged in alinement and provided with insulating bushings 30 in which are inserted the fulcrum-screws 31 whose tapered inner ends 32 enter the ball-cups 22 through the apertured washers 24 and rest The yoltc 1 has arranged at diametrically in contact with the anti-friction balis 23, the nicked outer ends of said fulcrum-screws being housed within the insulating buttons 33. It will thus be seen that the angularly arranged. pairs of fulcrum-screws 18 and 31, in conjunction with the rocking ring 17, constitute a universal joint connection means of which the motor-frame is suspended from the supporting frame or base, which in turn is suspended from the hook 3% at the ceiling by means of the tube having its lower end tapped into a socket in the hub 36 and having at its upper end the cap 37 with spaced lugs 38 and transverse bolt 30 engaged by the hook The bearing boss 5 is shown provided with a bushing 40 fitted upon the shaft 6 and locked in position by meansof the screw d1, As represented in the to F. Diehl and A. F. Becker No. 867,914, dated ()ctober 8, 1907, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4% of the accompanying drawings, the shaft 6 has fixed upon its extremity by means of the set-screw 42 the eccentric e3 encircled by a wearing ring 14 secured within the hub of the gear-wheel &5 by means of the pins 46.

Mounted loosely upon the bearing hub or boss 5 is a sleeve 4-.7 having in its upper face a cavity embracing the eccentric 43. Within the bottom of tiis cavity is fitted the annular plate 48 having its apertured inner portion fitted to the annular cut-away end portion of the bearing boss 5 and secured to the same by means of fastening screws 49. To the outer periphery of the plate 18 is fitted the correspondingly recessed adjacent face of a ring 50, locked from turning in respect of the same by means of onezor more transverse pins 51. This ring 50 is provided with an annular series of gear-teeth to form an internal gearwheel. The annular plate 48 thus constitutes a rigid connection between the bearing hub 5 and the internal gear-wheel 50 which latter is thus held iri-fixed relation with the motor-frame.

Overlapping the internally toothed ring 50 is a second internally toothed ring or internal gear having teeth of substantially the same pitch but differing slightly in number from those of the internal gear 50, the gear 52 having a flange extending outwardly beyond the periphery of the gear .30 and being secured by fastening screws 5: to a seat provided therefor in the recessed outer portion of the sleeve 47. The teeth of both internal gears 50 and are engaged upon one side of the armatureshaft bythe common intcrineshing ext-ernally-ioothed planet gear-wheel having fitted to its hub the wearing ring at mounted upon the eccentric 43, the face of the gear us a width equivalent to the aggre- 45 hav gate width of the other two gears.

United. States patent The gear-cavity within the loose sleeve or housing a? is closed by a cap-plate 5 1 fitted upon a seat afiorded by the upper extremity of: the member 47 and secured thereon by means of fastening screws 55. The cap-plate 5st has a peripheral groove in which is introduced one side of a tire or facing, herein represented as a rubber ring 56 expanded and snapped over the edge of the cap-plate without fastening means other than the sides of the peripheral groove; but it is evident that such facing may be formed of leather or other suitable yielding material in which case it would be retained in position upon the periphery of the capplate by suitable fastening means.

The pivotal supports of the motor-frame are preferably disposed upon intersecting axes to form a gimbal-joint and arranged slightly below the center of gravity of the structure, whereby the motor has a tendency to turn over upon its side so as to cause the rim 56 of the traction-wheel afforded by the cap-plate 54: to rest upon the conical track or run-way 28 of the supporting frame or hanger; while the slow rotary movement of the traction-wheel under the action of the differential gearing 4:5, 50, 52 connecting it with the fan shaft 6 induces a circular movement of the traction-wheel 5st which produces gyratory diiferential tilting movements of the motor-frame upon its angularly arranged fulcra l8 and 31 and a resultant motion or" the shaft 6 in addition to its normal rotary fan-propelling movement. To insure the requisite rolling contact between the traction-wheel and its track 28, especially when starting the operation of the fan, the screw-pin 57 is tapped centrally through the boss 26, so that its conical point, projecting below the latter, affords a barrier against the retraction of the wheel from the track.

According to the present improvement, the motor-frame 1, and consequently the fanshaft 6, has a tilting or rocking motion upon two axes in angular arrangement correresponding with the fulcra 18 and 31 both of which are disposed transversely of a fixed line, such as the axis of the suspending tube 35, and thejtilting means causes the motor.- frame to rock upon both of these axes which assume varying angular relation with the fixed axial line in the operation of the fan. By this means, the motor-frame receives its nyratory movements without rotation upon its own axis or that of the fan-shaft. The rocking or tilting movements of the supporting ring 17 and the motor-frame 1 upon their respective axes may be described as rotatory movements, inasmuch as both receive turning movements through a partial rotation. The actuating means from which the motor-body 1 receives turning movements upon its axis or fulcrum 31 is controlled or maintained in operation to a certain extent by the turning of the supporting ring or support 17 upon its respective axis 20 which permits the continuous contact of the rim 56 of the traction-wheel with the track or runway 28.

To provide'the necessary power for actuating the fan-motor, electric current is led from the generator by means of the cable 58 extending downwardly from the top of the suspending tube through a lateral aperture 59 near the bottom of: the same, whence its component conducting wires or and I) are led in opposite directions through apertures in the arms 25 and along the extensions 29 at the lower ends of which they terminate in disks or washers 61 surrounding the fulcrum-screws 31, being clamped upon insulating washers 62 by means of nuts (33 internally threaded to fit the screws 31 and housed within the insulating caps 33. Current is thus conducted from the wires a and b to the respective ball cups through the fulcrum-screws 31 and balls 23.

Electrical connection is established between each of the ball-cups 22 and one of the .fulcrumserews 18 by means of a metallic conducting strip (3 1 lying upon the in ner face of the rocking ring 17 and in practice provided with a suitable insulating covering. As represented in 2, this strip is at one end entered by a screw (35 passing through the bottom of the ball-cup 22 and through a clearance aperture in the recess theretor of the ring 17, the extremity of the conducting strip 64 being clamped upon an insulating washer 66 upon the inner face of the ring 17 by means of the clampnut 67. The opposite end of the strip 6 1 is apertured to embrace the fulcrum-screw 1S, and is clamped upon the insulating washer 68 upon the inner face of the ring 17 by means of the clamp-nut 69.

Electrical connection is established between the fulcrum-screws 18 and the motor terminals by means represented in detail in Fig. 5, and substantially as described in relation to the connection shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 5, the bottom of the ballcup 14 is provided with an aperture in which is countersunk the head of the screw 70 passing through the aperture of a metallic washer 71 formed upon the end of a colnlucting wire 72 shown leading to one of the field magnets 8, the screw 70 being insulated from the yoke 1 by passing'through a hole of larger diameter extending inwardly through the bottom of the ball-cup socket, and having applied to its threaded extremity the clamp-nut 73 serving to clamp the me.- tallic washers 71 upon the insulating washer 74 upon the inner face of the yoke 1. Current is thus led from the source of supply through the c: ble 58 and its component wires a and Z) to the outer fulcrum-studs 31, and

through the ball-cups 22 and screws through the flat conducting strip 64, whence it passes through the fulcrum-stiuls 18, ballcups 14- and screws to wires 72 leading to the motor terminals.

The present im 'n'ovement is herein shown and described as embodied in an electric ceiling fan of the propeller type in which the entire motor receives a gyratory movement upon the supporting frame by which it is suspended from the ceiling, but it will be readily understood that the improvement is not limited to any SPOClfiC type of fan or guiding mechanism therefor and that where an individual motor is employed for turning the fan-shaft it is not essential that the motor itself be mounted to tilt in (litlerent planes with the shaft or other carrier to which the fan-blades are secured. It is also evident that other means than those shown and described herein may be employed for suspending and imparting the lateral movements to the fan, and that such lateral movements are not necessarily circular, so long as the same are not confined to a single plane, as in a well-known class of desk ians provided with frames to which are imparted oscillatory movemmits upon iulcra disposed in a single axial line.

It will be observed that according to the present construction the-tan-shatt not only has, in addition to its rotary movement, a substantially unitorm gyratory movement in distinction from those fans in which the motor-frame oscillates, but this gyratory movement is derived from mechanical means including an actuating member fixed upon and thus operatively connected with the fanshaft, as distinguished from other fans of the same general class in which the oscillatory or rotary movement of the motor-frame is produced by the reaction oi the air current induced by the rotation of the fan-blades.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A ventilating ian comprising a-motor constructed with a frame, a fan-shaft and a plurality oi fan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, a universal joint connection arranged slightly below the center of gravity of the motor and by means of which the latter is suspended from said support or hanger, a traction-wheel carried by said motor-frame and maintained by. gravity in rolling contact with said track, and a driving connection between said traction-whecl and the fanshaft.

2. A ventilating fan comprising a motor constructed with a frame, a fairshait and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a tiltii'ig motor-frame support upon which the motor-frame is pivotally mounted to tilt upon an axis transverse to that upon which said support tilts, and means connected with said fan-shaft and operating independently of the air current induced by the fan-blades whereby difi'erential tilting movements are imparted to the motor-frame and its sup port upon their respective axes.

3. A ventilating fan comprising a motor constructed. with a frame, a fan-shaft and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, a universal joint connection by means of which the motor is suspended from said support or hanger, a traction wheel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger, and an operative connection between said tractionwheel and the fan-shaft whereby motion is imparted to traction-wheel while the fan is in operation.

4. A ventilating fan comprising a motor constructed with a frame, a fan-shaft and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a

support or hanger provided with an endless track, a universal joint connection by means of which the motor is suspended from said support or hanger, a traction-wheel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger an operative connection between said tractionwheel and the fan-shaft wherelv motion is imparted to the traction-wheel while the fan is in operation, and meansfor confining said traction-wheel in contact with said track.

5. A ventilating fan comprising a motor constructed with a frame, a fan-shalt and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, fulcra carried by said support or hanger and arranged in alinement, a rocking ring mounted upon said tulcra, fulcra carried by said rocking ring in angular arrangement in relation to the first-mentioned fulcra and upon which said motorirame is mounted to oscillate, a tractionwhcel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger, and an operative connection between said traction-wheel and the tan-shaft whereby mol ion is imparted to the traction\vheel while the tan is in operation.

(3. A ventilating, fan comprising a motor constructed with a. frame, a fan-shaft and a plurality of tan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, fulcrum-pins carried by said support or hanger and arranged in alinement, a rocking ring, ball-cups mounted in diametrically arranged recesses or sockets in said rocking ring and provided with anti friction balls engaged by said tulcrmn-pins, fulcrum-pins carried by said rocking ring arranged in alinoinent with each other and in angular relation to the first-mentioned fulcrum-pins, ball-cups mounted in diametrically arranged recesses or sockets in the motor-tame and provided with antifriction balls engaged by the second-named fulcrum-pins a traction-wheel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger, and an operative connection between said traction-wheel and the fan-shaft whereby motion is imparted to the traction-wheel while the fan is in operation.

7. A ventilating fan comprising a motor constructed with a frame, a fan-shaft and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, a universal joint connection by means of which the motor is suspended from said support or hanger, a traction-wheel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger, and a speedreducing driving connection between said fan-shaft and the tractionwheel whereby motion is imparted to the traction-wheel while the fan is in operation.

8. A ventilating fan comprising a fanshaft, a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a frame'in which said fan-shaft is journaled, means for driving said fan-shaft, a support or hanger provided with an endle s track, tulcra carried by said support or hanger and arranged in alinement, a rocking ring mounted upon said tulcra, fulcra carried by said rocking ring in angular arrangement in relation to the first-mentioned i'ulcra and upon which the frame carrying said tan-shaft is mounted to oscillate, a, traction-wheel carried by said frame in r1 lliug contact with said track of the support or hanger, and an ope ative connection between said traction-wheel and the fanshait whereby motion is imparted to the trzu-tion-wheel while the fan is in Operation.

9. A ventilating fan comprising an electric motor constructcrl with a frame, a shaft and a plurality of fan-blades mounted thereon, a support or hanger provided with an endless track, i'ulcrmn-pins carried by said support or hanger and arranged in alinemcnt, a rocking ring, ball-cups mounted in diametrically arranged recesses or sockets in said rocking ring and provided with antiirirtion balls engaged bysaid Fulcrum-pins, fulcrum-pins carried by said rocking ring arranged in aline'i'nent with each other and in angular relation to the first-mentioned fulcrum-pins, ballcups mounted in diametrically arranged recesses or sockets in themotor-trame and provided with anti-triction balls engaged by the second-namcd fulcrum-pins, insulating means interposed between the fulcrum-pins and the ball'cups and the respective parts by which they are carried, a traction-wheel carried by said motor-frame in rolling contact with said track of the support or hanger, an operative connection between said traction-wheel, and the tanshaft whereby motion is imparted to the traction-wheel while the fan is in operation, conducting wires led "from the source of supply of electric current to the. first-mentioned 'tulcrum-pina respectively, electrical connections intermediate each of the first-named ball-cups and one oi the secorul-named fulcrum-pins, and electrical connections intermediate the second-tanned ballcups and their respective meter terminals.

10. In a fan, a tan-nunor-body having a constant oscillatory movement about an axis fixed with relation to said body and extend ing at substantially right angles to the plane of said movement, fan blades carried by said body, and means for autmnatieally changing the position eat the axi-; about which sanl body oscillates.

ll. .ln :1 tan, a tan-motor--body having a constant oscillatory movement about an axis fixed with relation to said bo l \"aud extending at substantially right angles to the plane of such movement, tan blades carried by said l od v, and means for continuously changing the position of the axis about which said body oscillates.

.12. A inn comprising in combination a fan-wheel. a mob for driving the same, a carrier to which said motor is pivoted. a support to which said carrier p voted, and reducing transmission merhanisn'i driven by said motor arranged to impart motion to the motor about both said axes.

13. In a fan, a base, a support mounted on said base and having rotatory movements relatively thereto, a ian-mol'onbody ha vint, a rotary armature shaft and mtnmted upon said sup 'iort to move about an axis extending at an angle to the axis ol' said support and said shall; in rans controlled by the to tatory novennxnt f said support to impart to said tananotw-body movement about its said axis, and tan-bhules carried by-said armature shaft.

M. In a l an, the combination with a base, and a support movable about a fixed axis on said base, of a itan-motor-body mounted on said :-u}')po1't to move about an axis extending transversely to the firstmcntioned axis, and tan-blades carried by said tau-motorbody and rotatable about an axis extending transversely to said axis of said tan-motorbody 15. A fan comprising a support movable about a lixed axis, a l'an--motor-body pivotally mounted on said support on an axis extending at right, angles to said lixed axis, fan-blades rotatably mounted on said l'anmotoubody, and means controlled by the rotation of said support: to oscillate said lanmotor-body about its said axis which extends at an angle to the axis of rotation of said tan-blades.

l A fan comprising a support rotatable about a lixcd axis, a lairmotor-bmly pivotally mounted on said support on an axis extending at right angles to said fixed axis,

tan-blades rotatably mounted on said fanmotor-body, and means controlled by the retation oi said support to oscillate said fan motor-body in a plane substantially parallel to the 2 xis of said support; and about an axis extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of said tan-blades 17. In a tan. a base, a supporting frame mounted on said base and ha ving rotatory movement relatively thereto, a lan-inotou body carried by said supporting :l'rame, said supporting fram 1 and liananotor-body being connected together by bearings sustained by the one and pintles secured to ()lJIJOrltO sides of the othe" and mounted in said bearings whereby said body is free to oscillate about the axis of said pintles, means controlled by the movement; oi. said support: to move said lan-niotonbody constantly about the axis of said. pintles, and tan-blades carried by said body. v

18. In a tan, a base, a supporting frame mounted on said base and having; rotatory inotel'nent relatively thereto, a tan-motorbody carried by said supporting l'rame, said supporting frame and tan-motor-laaly being connected together by bearings sustained by the one and pintles secured to opposite sides of the other and mounted in said bearings, a device meratively connected with said body and with said supporting 'l'rame to impart constant scillatory m0ve meal to said body about the axis of said pintles. and tan-blades carried by said body.

ii in a lanpa ba a support mounted on said base and having turningmovements relative thereto, a :tan-1notor-la dy having a rotary armature shalt and mounted on said support to-move about an axis extending at .nn antl' lo the axisol movement ot said support and said shatt, means maintained by the turning movements of saltl support m position to impart to said l'an-n|oto1-lmdy its movements ab ut its axis, and fan-blades carried by said armature sha'lt.

30. A l'an comprising a support pivotally lnounted to turn upon a fixed fulcrum, a l'aii-1notor-body pivolally m unted on said support on a i'nlcrnm extending; at right angles to said fixed fulcrum, 'l'an-blades to tatably mounted on said 'l'an-motcr-bmly upon an axis at. an angle, to the fulcrum ot' the,-l'an-motor-body, and means maintained by the turning movements ol? said support in positi n to oscillate said l'an-motor-lmdy upon its fulcrum. i

21. in a tan, a base, a supporting 'l'ran'ie pivotally mounted on. said base and having turning movements relatively thereto, a tann'iotor-body carried by said supporting frame, said supporting 'l'rame and fanmotor-lmdy being, connected t gether by bearings sustained by one and pint'les secured to opposite sides of the other and mounted in said bearings whereby said body Ian r&

motor-body being connected together by bearings sustained by one and pintles secured to opposite sides or the other and mounted in said bearings, device operatively connected With said body and With said base to impart constant oscillatory movement to said body about the axis of said pintles, and fan-blades carried by said body.

23. A fan comprising in combination a fan Wheel, and supporting and driving means therefor adapted to rotate the same and mounted for motion about a plurality of other than'the axis of rotation 01 said fan, and comprising operating means arranged to produce bodily motion of such fan Wheel in an endless curvilinear path about such axes, in addition to the rotation of said fan about its own axis.

2a. A fan comprising in combination a fan Wheel, and a motor for supporting and driving said fan mounted for motion about a plurality of axes other than the axis of rotation of said fan and comprising operating means arranged to produce motion of said motor, and with it the fan, about such axes, in an endless curvilii'icar path.

25. A. fan comprising in combination a fan wheel, and driving means therefor mounted for motion about a plurality of axes other than the axis of rotation of said fan, said axes located approximately at right angles to each other, said operating means comprising means arranged to produce bodily motion of said fan about such axes in an endless curvilinear path.

26. A fan comprising in combination a fan Wheel, and a motor for driving same mounted for oscillation about a plurality of axes other than the axis of rotation of said fan, said axes arranged approximately at right angles to one another, said motor com prising operating means arranged to produce bodily motion of the motor about both said axes in an endless curvilinear path.

27. In a fan, the combination, with a fanmotor body, and a support therefor, of a bearing comprising two members, one member of said bearing being mounted on and insulated from said fan-motor body and connected to the motor-windings Within the same, and the other member of said bearing bein mounted on and insulated from said support and connected to an electric circuit, whereby said bearing becomes a part of the ialrmotor circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence 01 two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK DIEHL.

YJitnesses Norman J. Aoiinn, JOSEPH r. JA UI'ri-i. 

